Methods and apparatus for object recognition and compression

Apparatus and methods are provided for object recognition and compression. The apparatus comprises an object processor configured to receive the image and synthesize a contour of an object within the image and a classification engine configured to receive the contour of the image and recognize the object within the image as a member of a first object class if the object substantially meets first object criteria of the first object class that is at least partially related to the target-specific utility of the image. The apparatus also comprises a multi-rate encoder configured to compress a first region of the image having said object recognized as said member of said first object class at a first coding rate, said first coding rate providing a first coding resolution of said first region that is greater than a second coding resolution provided by a second coding rate for the image.